Electrically driven variable speed drive system



May 28,1940. H Y R 2,202,553

ELECTRIGALLY DRIVEN VARIABLE SPEED DRIVE SYSTEM 1 Filed June 24, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 6/,11VVENTOR A TTORNEY D. HEYER May 28, 1940.

ELECTRICALLY DRIVEN VARIABLE SBEED DRIVE SYSTEM Filed June 24, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zan//er. 11v VENTOR BY a I t A TTORNEY YD.HEYER May 28, 1940.

ELECTRICALLY DRIVEN VARIABLE SPEED DRIVE SYSTEM 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 24, 1935 2077 eye/t 11v VENTOR A TTOANEY May 28, 1940. D. HEYER 2,202,553

ELECTRICALLY DRIVEN VARIABLE SPEED DRIVE SYSTEM Filed June 24, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Im/I/IIM 7W7 m f i yaw 1 "llllIlIl--- ----I"l /N VENTOR Patente'd May 28, 1940' PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICALLY DRIVEN VARIABLE SPEED DRIVE SYSTEM Don Heyer, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to U. S. Electrical Motors, Inc., Los Angcles, Calif., a corporation of California Application June 24, 1935, Serial No. 28,158

6 Claims.

This invention relates to an adjustable speed drive and more particularly to an integral construction incorporating a geared electric motor in driving relation to a driving pulley structure, a driven pulley structure in driving relation to a driven load and a belt for transmitting power from the driving pulley structure to the driven pulley structure, at least one of the pulley structures having an adjustable effective pulley diameter whereby the variation of speed ratio is obtained.

Such an adjustable pulley structure may include a pair of pulley sections having opposed inclined faces forming a seat for a wedge-shaped driving belt. In order to provide means for adjusting the effective diameter of the pulley structure, the pulley sections are made relatively axially adjustable. In this way the inclined faces can be brought closer together causing the belt to be urged radially outward to produce an increased effective diameter; or they can be separated causing the belt to contact with the inclined faces at a shorter radial distance to produce a decreased effective diameter. In the particular form of the device to be described hereinafter the adjustable speed drive has one pulley structure having an adjustable effective pulley diameter and one pulley structure, which may have a fixed efiective diameter. The belt or power transmitting member employed has a substantially constant effective length. This gives rise to the problem of adjusting a belt of constant length to pulleys of relatively variable efiective diameter. when only one adjustable diameter pulley structure is employed the belt may be maintained in active driving relation to the pulley structures by adjusting the center "distance between the axes of the two pulley structures simultaneously with the adjustment of the adjustable diameter pulley structure. Thus in construction employing one adjustable diameter pulley structure and in which the center distance is variable, it is necessary to provide means whereby the center distance and the diameter of the adjustable pulley structure may be adjusted at the relative rates required by the pulley diameters and the belt length.

Such variable speed drives have been described in several earlier applications which can be identified as follows:

Don Heyer, Centrifugally controlled variable speed transmission, Serial No. 631,067,filed August 30, 1932;

Don Heyer, Variable speed transmission device, Serial No. 678,734, filed July 1, 1933;

Don Heyer, Adjustable speed drive, SeriaLNo. 732,452, filed June 26, 1934;

DonHeyer, Multiple belt variable speed drive system, Serial No. 752,657, filed November 12, 1934; and v Don Heyer, Multiple belt adjustable speed drive system, Serial No. 16,340, filed April 15, 1935.

This application is a continuation in part of these prior applications.

In one embodiment of the invention to be described hereinafter, this problem is solved by providing positive means for adjusting the efiective diameter of theadjustable pulley structure and by providing yielding means for adjusting the center distance between the axes of the two pulley structures in accordance with the adjustment of the adjustable diameter pulley structure. In another form of the adjustable speed drive, positive means are provided for adjusting the center distance between the axes of the two pulley structures and resilient means are provided for adjusting the efliective diameter of the adjustable pulley structure in accordance with the adjustment of the center distance between the-two pulley structures. In a third form of the adjustable speed drive, interlocking means are provided for adjusting the center distance between the axes of the two pulley structures and for adjusting the effective diameter of the adjustable pulley structure in accordance with the adjustment of the center distance.

In many variable speed power applications the speed required at the load driving shaft is much less thanthat provided at the driving shaft of the motor. This reduction in speed may be obtained by employing reduction gearing between the driven pulley of the adjustable speed drive and the driven machine; or the driven pulley structure of the adjustable speed drive may be mounted directly on the driving shaft of the driven machine and the reduction in speed may be obtained by-the use of appropriate diameters for the driving and driven pulleys. In this invention, one of the pulley structures may be mounted directly on the load driving shaft, which is in active driving relation to the driven load. If the driving pulley structure is mounted directly on the shaft of the driving motor, the diameter of the driven pulley structure is directly determined by the diameter of the driving pulley structureand the reduction in speed which is required between the driving motor and the load driving shaft. Thus where a large reduction in speed is required, the diameter of the driven pulley structure is much greater than that of the driving pulley structure. If it is attempted to obtain the required reduction of speed between the driving electric motor and the driven load by employing reduction gearing between the driven pulley of the adjustable speed drive and the driving shaft of the driven machine, then it is no longer possible to employ the simple construction in which the driven pulley structure is mounted directly on the driving shaft of the driven machine. Or if the reduction in speed is obtained by the use of driving and driven pulleys of the required diameters the construction requires a driven pulley having an exceedingly largediameter, which is expensive to construct and which requires a belt of special length. For it is obvious that for each diameter of the driven pulley structure a belt of different length will be required. It is-one of the objects of this invention to provide an adjustable speed drive in which the center distance between the driving and driven pulley structures is variable and in which the required speed maybe obtained at the load driving shaft without the necessity of employing belts of special lengths o 1;.pul1eys of special diameters. i-

It is still another object of this invention to provide an adjustable speed drive in which the driving pulley structuremay be directly supported by the frame of the driving motor and the driven pulley structure may be directly mounted on the driving shaft of a driven machine and in which the required speed is provided at the driving shaft of the driven machine 1 by-the use of appropriate gearing between the driving shaft of the electric motor and the driving shaft of the driving pulley structure.

In this invention the required speed is provided at the load driving shaft of the driven machine without the use'of belts of special length or pulleys of special diameters by providing appropriate gearing between the driving shaft of the driving electric motor and the driving pulley structure. This construction not only obviates the difliculty of obtaining the required speed at the driving shaft of the driven machine; but also provides means whereby belts having an increased power "capacity may be employed. The power which can be transmitted by a belt is determined by the useful belt tension and the peripheral-velocity at which the belt' may be operated. The peripheral velocity at which the belt may beoperated is in turn a function of the' effective pulley diameter; for the belt will fail if it is bent over a small diameter. even' though it is operated at a low peripheral velocity, as the excessive strainandshear produced in the belt quickly separates the belt structure. The belt will also fallif it is bent over a large effective diameter and operated at a high peripheral lnvention to provide an adjustable speed drive having a variable center distance and in which the driving electric motor and the power transdrive of Figure 1.

drive. In this form positive means are pro- Figure 7 is a plan view of a form of the ad mitting means may be operated at their optimum speeds. v

This invention possesses many other advantages and has other objects which may be made more easily apparentfrom a consideration of several embodiments of the invention. For this purpose there are shown several forms in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the present specification- These forms will now be described indetail which illustrate the general principles of the invention; but it is to be underlustrates a form of the adjustable speed drive in which interlocking means are provided for si-. multaneously adjusting the center distance between the driving and driven pulley structures and for adjusting the effective diameter of the .adjustable pulley structure.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the motor supporting structure of Figure '1 with the driving motor removed.

Figure 3 is a. side elevation of the motor supporting structure of Figure 1, taken from the front of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the driving electric motor structure of the adjustable speed This view is partly in section, taken along the axis of the adjustable pulley structure.

Figure 4A is a side elevation of the driving belt of Figure 4, and illustrates in detail a preferred form of the driving belt.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the driving motor structure of another form of the adjustable speed vided for adjusting the center distance and the efiective diameter of the adjustable pulley structure is resiliently adjusted in accordance with the adjustment of the center distance.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the driving motor structure of Figure 5.- This view is partly in section taken along the axis of the adjustable pulley structure.

justable speed drive, in which positive means areprovided for adjusting the diameter of the adjustable pulley structure, and in which the center distance is resiliently adjustedin accordance with the adjustment of the effective pulley diameter.

Figure 8 is a side elevation of the driving motor structure of Figure 7. This view is partly insection taken along the axis of the adjustable pulley structure.

Referring to Figure '1, the adjustable speed drive is formed by the geared electric motor -I, which is in driving relation to the adjustable pulley structure 2, mounted on the load driving shaft of the geared electric motor and which by means of the belt 3 drives the pulley structure 4, mounted on the driving shaft 5 of the driven machine 6. The belt 3 is wedge-shaped and has opposed inclinedpulley engaging side surfaces. To provide a, belt having increased traction, a belt of rubber and fabric composition may be employed. The driven pulley ,4 may be a V-type pulley of the type commonly employed in constant speed V-belt drives; however, the width of the groove for the belt must be determined from the dimensions of the adjustable diameter 75 no, i

, be moved toward each other to provide the center distance required by the belt length. Conversely, a

pulley 2; V The driving pulley structure 2 is formed by the pulley sections I and 8, which have opposed inclined belt engaging faces, forming by relative axial adjustment variable effective pulley diameters. For instance, if it is desired to increase the effective diameter of the adjustable pulley structure, the pulley sections I and 8 are moved toward the driving belt 3. This movement of the pulley sections toward each other forces the driving belt radially outward to define a larger effective diameter. Conversely, a separating movement of the pulley sections allows the belt-to move radially inward to define a smaller effective diameter. The pulley section I is axially fixed to the supporting shaft of the adjustable pulley structure and the pulley section 8 is adjusted. axially-with respect to the fixed pulley section I. The axial adjustment of the pulley section. 8 is actuated by the rotation of the sprocket wheel 9, which is rotatably supported coaxial with the pulley structure. The means whereby the rotation of the sprocketwheel 9 adjusts the axial position of the pulley section 8 will be described in detail in connection with Figure 4.

It is obvious fromthe construction that as the diameter of the adjustable pulley structure is increased, that the driving and driven pulleys must when the diameter of the adjustable pulley structure is decreased the center distance between the pulley structuresmust be increased to adjust the belt to the decreased .pulley diameter. In the present instance the center distance between the driving and driven pulley structures is positively adjusted and the diameter of the adjustable pulley structure is'interlockingly adjusted to the diameter required by the adjusted center distance.

To provide means for adjusting the center dis- ,tance between the pulley structures, the'geared electric motor I is mounted on the sliding motor base III, which in turn is supported bythe subbase II. The sub-base II is provided with appropriate feet I2 for securing the motor supporting structure to the supporting foundation. It is obvious from the construction that if the belt is to be maintained in alignment that, the opposite facing pulleysections must Ibemoved by substantially equal increments toward -'or away from the driving belt. Thus whenthe-dlameter of the adjustaple-pulley structure is'jijncreased, pulley section 'I must be moved toward the right, to approach the driving belt 3, and the pulley section 8 must be moved, a substantially equal distance toward the left, as viewed in Figure. 1.

' The pulley section I is, however, axially fixed with respect to the frame of the electric motor I.

Thus as the diameter of the adjustable pulley.

structure is increased, pulley section], together with the geared electric motor I, must be moved toward the right and simultane usly with this movement, the geared electric moved toward the driven pulley 4 to adjust the center distance to the value required by the increased pulley diameter.

In the present instance the required movement of the geared electric motor and of the adjustable pulley structure is provided by means of an'angular guide, which moves the sliding base I and-the supported motor in an axial direction simultaneously with the adjustment of the center distance. This guide is formed by the engagement of the tongue members I3 and .I4; Figure 3, formed on the sliding base, with the otor I must be grooves I5 and I6 formed on the sub-base. The

grooves I5 and I6 are formed at the required angle with respect to the axis of the adjustable pulley structure so that, the pulley section I. is

adjusted in an axial direction at the rate reintermediate value of the angle may be chosen for any single construction such that the belt is maintained in 'substantial alignment for all positions of the adjustable pulley structure.

. In order to adjust the sliding clearance between the tongue and groove members one side of the groove I5 is formedjby'the adjustable member II, which is suitably held in place by means of bolts which pass through appropriate slots formed in the member I1 and which are threaded into the sub-base.

By means of the construction provided, the movement of the supported motor and of the adjustable pulley structure is so guided that the supporting shafts of the driving and driven pulleys are maintained parallel and. the belt is maintained in substantially perfect alignment.

The means provided for adjusting the position of the sliding'base I0 and the supported motor and pulley structure is illustrated by FigureZ, which is a plan view of the motor supporting structure with the driving motor removed. Referring to Figure 2; the position of the sliding base I0 is adjusted by means of the lead screw I9, which threadedly engages the bushing 20 removably secured to the sliding base, and which is rotatably supported by means of the bushing 2| formed on removablecover plate 22. The

axial position of the lead screw I9 is fixed by means of the shoulder 23 formed on the lead screw, and the collar24, which is suitably secured duce'sa corresponding adjustment of' the center distance between the axes of the pulley structures.- The subbase I I is also provided with the removable cover plate 21, which provides access to'the threaded bushing 29 and the lead screw I9.

The means-whereby the, adjustment of the- 3 with the stator 28, and the rotor 29 mounted on Thus as viewed in Figure 1, when the the motor shaft 30. The motor shaft 30 is robe of the'type commonly employed in standard motor construction and may be provided with suitable air intake passages for the motor ventilation. The end bracket 34 is of special construction and together with the removable cover 35 forms the gear-housing 36. The bearings 3| and 32 are supported in suitable bearing housings formed respectively in the end brackets 33 and 34.

To provide the reduction in speed between the motor shaft and the load driving shaft 31, the motor shaft has mounted thereon the driving pinion 38, which is in driving relation to the driven gear 39 mounted on the load driving shaft. The load driving shaft 31 is rotatably supported by means of the bearings 48 and 4|, which are respectively supported in suitable bearing housings formed on the housing member 34 and the removable cover 35. The load driving shaft 31 projects to the exterior of the gear housing and has mounted thereon the adjustable pulley structure. The gears 38 and 39 are designed to provide the required speed at the driven machine and so that both the electric motor and the member of the adjustable speed transmission are operated at their optimum speeds.

The pulley section 1 of the adjustable pulley structure has secured thereto the axially extendinghub 42 by means of which it is supported on the load driving shaft 31. The hub 42 is keyed to the load driving shaft by the key 43 and .is held against axial movement by the set screw 44. The pulley section 8 is slidably supported on the exterior surface of the hub or sleeve 42 by means of the bearing bushing 45, which is suitably pressed into the hub 46 of the pulley section. The pulley section 8 is keyed to the pulley section 1 by means of the key 41, which prevents relative rotation of the pulley sections; but which permits the axial movement of the pulley section 8.

The axial adjustment of the pulley section 8 is produced by the axial adjustment of the bearing 48, which is secured to the hub 46 of the pulley section by means of the lock nuts 49. The

,outer race of the bearing 48 is held within the axially adjustable bearing housing 58, by means of the bearing cap 5|, the bearing cap being suitably secured to the bearing housing by means of the screws 52, which pass through the bearing housing and which are threaded into the bearing cap. The bearing cap 5| isprovided with a suitable lubricant retaining seal 53 .for preventing the escape of lubricant along the hub 46. The hub 42 likewise has secured thereto the bearing 54, which is held to the hub by means of the bearing cap 55, which threadedly engages the interior of the hub. The/outer race of the bearing 54 is held within the bearing housing formed by the threaded sleeve 56 and the bearing cap 51. The

' threaded sleeve 56 threadedly engages the thread 58, formed onthe interior surface of .the bearing 7 housing 58.

The threaded sleeve 56 is axially fixed to the hub 42, which in turn is secured to the load driv ing shaft 31., It is thus obvious that a relative rotation of the threaded sleeve 56 and of the bearing housing 58 results in an axial adjustment of the bearing housing 58, the bearing 48 and of the pulley'section 8. The rotation of the threaded sleeve 56 is actuated by the rotation of the sprocket wheel 9, which is secured to the stubshaft 59, fixed to the bearing cap 51. The sprocket wheel 9 is secured to the stub-shaft 59 by the lock .nut 68 and is held against relative rotation by the key 6|. It is thus obvious that a rotation of the sprocket wheel 9 results in a corresponding axial adjustment of the pulley section 8 and thus produces an adjustment of the effective diamete of the adjustable pulley structure. v

Thesprocket wheel 9 is driven by means 01 the sprocket chain 62, which engages the driving sprocket 63, mounted on the rotatably supported pinion rod 64. The pinion'rod 64 is rotatably supported by the bushing 65, formed on the sliding base, and is held against axial movement by a the pinion rod 64, thereby producing the resultant rotation of the sprocket wheels 63 and 9. 1w

The pinion rod 64 also serves to preventthe pose the bearing housing 58 is provided with the arm 18, which has formed thereon the bushing 1|, through which the rod 64 passes. The engagerotation of the bearing housing 58. For this purment of the bushing II with the rod 64 prevents therotation of the bearing housing 58, but permits the axial movement thereof.

The operation of the adjustable speed drive thus takes place in the following manner." When the center distance is adjusted by the rotation of the handwheel 25, the relative'movement of-the sliding base [8 and of the sub-base H produces a rotation of the pinion rod 64, which in turnby means of the sprocket wheels 63 and 9 and the sprocket chain 62 produces a relative rotation of threaded sleeve 56 and of the bearing housing 58, thereby producing an axial adjustment of the pulley section 8 and the resultant adjustment of the effective diameter of the adjustable pulley structure to the value required by the adjusted value of the center distance.

In order to provide means for compensating for belt wear the sprocket wheel 63 is secured to the pinion rod 64 by means of the set screw 12 and is provided with the small crank handle 13. If it isdesired to increase the belt tension the set screw 12 may be withdrawn, permitting the relative rotation of the pinion rod 64 and of the sprocket wheel 63. The belt tension'may then be increased, either; by increasing the center distance by the rotation of the handwheel 25; or by the rotation of the sprocket wheel 63 by means of the crank handle 13, afterwhich the sprocket wheel may again be secured to the'p inion rod by means of the set screw. I

To provide means whereby the belt 3'may be worn until its width is materially decreased, without impairing the efliciency of the drive, a belt is provided which is of uniform construction throughout its width. Thus as the belt wears and the belt slack is taken up by means of the sprockets 9 and 63, the nature of the driving surfaces presented by the belt to the pulley sections remains the same. There is also no tendency for parts of the belt to tear off, as the belt is worn,

. since the belt is of uniform construction through out its width and has no joints formed by layers I terial extending longitudinally. of the belt.

rubber composition is molded to form ribs or cogs I42 on the inside periphery of the belt. The cogs I42 increase the rigidity of the belt against lateral compression; but at the same. time maintain the flexibility of the belt in bending around the pulley. The neutral section I43, that part of the belt which transmits most of the useful belt tension, is formed of suitable rubberized cord ma- The tension section I44, that part of the belt which is stretched when the belt is bent, is formed of.

successive layers of rubberized bias cut fabric. The inside periphery of the belt may be provided with the fabric cover I45, and the outer :layer of bias cut fabric may be provided with the rubber cover I48. However, the pulley engaging sides of the belt are not covered, but the belt is made of uniform construction throughout its width.

By means of this construction a belt is provided which, due to its increased rigidity against lateral compression, is capable of transmitting anincreased load, and which, byyirtue of its increased'fiexibility, may be bent over a small diameter pulley, thereby increasing the range of the speed ratio adjustment of the adjustable speed drive.

The particular form of belt disclosed is of further utility as a plurality ofthe belts may be formed as a single drum, after which the drum may be cut to form theindividual belts. By this means belts of various widths may be formed from a single drum, thereby obviating the necessity of providing an individual mold for each width of belt.

The sprocket wheels 9 and 63 provide means whereby the same motor supporting structure may be used with pulleys of widely different diameters and belts of various widths and-lengths. The angle at which the sliding base I8 must be moved with respect to the sub-base II to maintain the belt in alignment is dependent'upon the pulley diameters and on the belt length. Thus if it is desired to maintain the belt in alignment the guide must be formed at a different angle for each set of pulley diameters. However, a slight misalignment of the belt may be tolerated if the belt is maintained at the proper tension. Thus the same base may be used for a range 'of pulley diameters and the belt may be maintained at the required tension by varying the rate at which the pulley section 8 is adjusted with respect to the adjustment of the center distance. This may be accomplished by'the choice of sprockets of suitable diameters for the sprockets 63 and 9.

Suitable means may be provided for supplying lubricant to the bearings 48 and 54 and to the supporting surfaces of'the pulley section 8. In the present instance the bearing cap 51 is pro-- vided with the lubricating aperture I4 through which lubricant may be injected into the lubricant retaining chamber I5, formed within the hub 42. The lubricant is in turn conducted from the lubricant retaining chamber 15 to the bearings, and

to the supporting surfaces of the pulley section 8 by, means of the lubricant conducting aperture I8. 'rne lubricant conducting aperture I4 may be suitably threaded to engage a pressure lubricating fixture II. It is obvious from the construction that lubricant may be injected to' the pulley adjustable speed drive. In this form the geared electric motor I is supported on the sliding motor base I8, which may be of the same form as the sliding base I0 of Figures 1 to 4, except that, the structure associated with the rotatably supported pinion rod 64 is omitted. The sliding base I8 is supported on the sub-base II and is guided in its movement with respect to the subbase by means of the engagement of the tongue pulley structure 82 is formed by the pulley sec tions 83 and 84, the pulley section 83 being axially ,fixed' with respect to the load driving shaft of the geared electric-motor and the pulleysection 84 being urged toward the pulley section 83 by means of the spring 85. The pulley structure 82 is in driving relation to the belt 3, which as in the construction of Figures 1 to 4 may be in driving relation to a driven pulley mounted on the driving shaft of a driven machine. In this form the center distance between the driving and driven pulleys is positively adjusted by means of the handwheel 25 and the lead screw I9 and the diameter of the adjustable pulley structure 82 is resiliently adjusted by means of the spring 85 to the value required by the adjusted center distance. As in the construction of Figure 1, the grooves I5 and I6, formed on the sub-base, serve to maintain thebelt in alignment. For as the sliding base I8 is adjusted todecrease the center distance the sliding base I8, the supported motor and the pulley section 83 are moved toward the right to maintain the belt in alignment.

The construction of the adjustable pulley structure 82 is illustrated in detail by Figure 6; which.

is a View of the driving motor and pulleystructure of Figure 5, as viewed from the front of Figure 5. Referring to Figure 6; the pulley secwhich is pressed into the hub 98 of the pulley section. The hub 86 is provided with the thread-- ed end 9I' into which the cap 92 is threaded. The threaded cap 92 is provided with the shoulder 93, which engages one end of the helical com pression spring85, and the other end of the helical spring 85 engages the shoulder 94, formed on the reverse side of the pulley section 84. The compression spring 85 thus serves to urge the pulley sections 83 and 84 into driving' relation with the belt 3. The pulley section'84 may be suitably keyed to the pulley section 83 by means of the key 95, which prevents the relative rotation of the pulley sections, but which permits the axial movement of the pulley section 84.

The supporting surfaces of the pulley section 84 may be suitably lubricated by means of'lubricant injected into the lubricant retaining chamber I48 through the pressure lubricating flX-g 'ture I39.

' A third form of the adjustable speed drive is u;

tion to the adjustable pulley structure 82. The

tive diameter of the adjustable pulley structure,

and the center distance between the driving and driven' pulley structures is resiliently adjusted in accordance with the adjustment of the efiective pulley diameter. Referring to Figure 7; the geared electric motor I is in driving relation to the adjustable pulley structure 96. The adjustable pulley structure 96 has the pulley section 91, which is axially fixed to the load driving shaft of the geared electric motor, and the pulley section 98, which is axially adjustable with respect to the fixed pulley section. The pulley sections 91 and 98 are in driving relation to the belt 3, which as in the construction of Figure 1 may be in driving relation to a driven pulley structure mounted on the driving shaft of a driven machine. The effective diameter of the adjustable pulley structure is positively adjusted by moving the pulley section 96 toward, or away from, the pulleysection 91, this adjustment'being actuated by therotation of the handwheel 99. The means whereby the rotation of the handwheel 99 produces an axial adjustment of the pulley section 90'will be described in detail in connection with Figure 8.

The driving geared electric motor is mounted on the sliding motor base I00, which in turn is guided by and supported on the sub-base I 0I.'

The movement of the sliding base I00 is guided by the engagement of the tongue'members I02 and I03, formed on the sliding base, with the grooves I04 and I05, formed on the sub-base. The pulley section 91' being axially fixed with respect to the frame of the geared electric motor, it is necessary that the pulley section 91 and the geared motor be moved toward the left, as viewed in Figure '1, when the center distance is decreased, if the belt is to be maintained in alignment. The required movement of the sliding motor base I00 and of the supported motor and pulley structure is provided by arranging the grooves I04 and I05 in the manner as illustrated in Figure 7;

To provide the adjustment of the center distance, the sliding base I00 has removably secured thereto the pedestal I06, through which the threaded rod I01 projects. One end of the rod I01 is supported in the bearing bushin'g I08, formed on the removable cover plate I09. The rod projects through the cover plate and-has secured to the end thereof the small handwheel H0. The other end of the rod I01 is provided with the threaded portion III, which threadedly engages the collar H2. The collar II2 serves as a support for one end of the helical compression spring II3, .the other end of which abuts against the pedestal I06 secured to the sliding base. It is seen that the spring II3 constantly urges the sliding base and the supported motor and pulley structure in a center distance increasing direction, thereby adjustingzthe center distance between the driving and driven pulley structures in accordance with the adjustment of the adjustable pulley structure.

The handwheel IIO provides means for adjusting the belt tension of the adjustable speed drive. It is obvious from the construction that the threaded collar II2 can be moved along the threaded rods I 01, to increase or decrease the spring pressure exerted by the spring I I3, by the rotation of the handwheel H0. The rotation of the handwheel thus serves to adjust the force urging the Su ported pulley structure in a center distance increasing direction and thereby adjusts the belt tension.

The construction of the adjustable pulley section. The sleeve I31 may be suitably keyed to the motor shaft by means of the key H1, and the pulley sections may .be keyed to the sleeve I31 by the key I38.

To provide means for adjusting the effective diameter of the adjustable pulley structure, the pulley section 98 has secured to the hub thereof the bearing II6, the inner race of which is fixed to the pulley hub H6 and the outer race of which is held within the axially adjustable bearing housing II9. The' bearing housing II9,has

secured thereto the oppositely placed, radially projecting pins I20, which engage the slots I2I formed in the shift lever I22. The shift lever I22 encircles the bearing housing H9 and thus provides means whereby the bearing housing and the bearing II8 may be urged in an axial direction without tilting the bearing housing. The shift arm is illustrated in Figure 8 with one part broken away in order to show the interior of the bearing housing. The shift arm I22 is pivotally supported on the pedestal I 23, which in turn is supported by the sliding motor base I 00. ,It is obvious from the construction that a tal I25 by means of the bearing I21, which has an inner race suitably secured to the threaded rod and an outer race which is held within the bearing housing I26 formed in the bearing pedestal I25; The threaded rod I26. engages the threaded sleeve I29, which has formed thereon the clevis I30. The clevis I30 supports the pin I3I, which engages the slotted end I32 of the shift arm I32. The engagement of the clevis I30 and the pin I3I with the shift arm prevents the rotation of the threaded sleeve I29. It is thus obvious-that a rotation of the rod I26 results in a corresponding axial movement of the threaded sleeve I29 and of the pin BI and in the resultant pivotal movement of the shift, arm I22. I .Suitable means may be provided for actuating the rotation of the rod I26. In the present instance the handwheel 99' is provided, which is suitably secured to-the rod by the locknut I34.

.In order to limit the adjustment of the effective diameter of the adjustable pulley structure,

the lock nuts I35 and I36 may be secured to the threaded rod I26, on either side of the threaded sleeve I29. The lock nuts may be so positioned on come into contact with the end of the threaded sleeve I29, thereby preventing any further increasing adjustment of the pulley diameter; and

the lock nuts I36 are so positioned on, the rod that when the effective diameter of the ad-- supported by the load driving shaft of the geared electric motor and that the driven pulley structure may be directly mounted on the driving shaft of the driven machine. It is to be further noted "that the gears of the geared electric motor may be chosen of such ratio, that the driving belt is operated at its optimum speed over the most advantageous pulley diameters, and it is also to be noted that by means of the construction provided the same driving .belt and driven pulley may be used in drives having widely varying speed requirements.

I claim:

1. In a variable speed power unit for driving a load, an electric motor, a driving pulley structure adapted to be used with a driven pulley structure and having a pair of pulley sections with opposed inclined faces, forming by relative axial adjustment, variable effective pulley diameters, a shaft upon which said sections are supported, gearing between said shaft and the motor, a driven pulley structure, a base for the motor upon which the motor is mounted for movement in a direction transverse to the axis of the motor, for varying the center distance between the driving and driven pulley structures, and adjusting means for varying the effective pulley diameter, and rack and pinion mechanism for actuating said adjustment means in response to said movement of the motor with respect to the base.

2. In a variable speed power unit for driving a load, an electric motor, a driving pulley structure having a pair of pulley sections with opposed inclined faces, forming by relative axial adjustment, variable efi'ective pulley diameters, a shaft upon which said sections are supported,

gearing between said shaft and the motor, one

of said sections being fixed to the shaft, and the other of said sections being axially adjustable on said shaft, a driven pulley structure, a base for the motor upon which the motor is mounted for movement to vary the center distance between the driving and driven pulley structures, as well as to maintain the pulley structures in substantial alinement, and means for positively moving said axially adjustable pulley section for varying the' effective diameter of the driving pulley structure, and rack and pinion mechanism for actuatin: said adjustment-means in'response to said movement of the motor with respect to the base.

3. In a variable speed mechanism, a variable diameter pulley structure having a'pair of sections with opposed inclined faces, forming by relative axial adjustment,'variable pulley diameters, a shaft upon which the sections are supported, an axially adjustable non-rotary support for one of said sections, means connecting said support and said section, said shaft having a hollow extension passing into said support, a thrust bearing between said support and one of said pulley sections, said pulley section being thus capableof sliding adjustment over the hollow extension, andmeans for axially moving said support, comprising an angularly adjustable member encompassing the end of the hollow extension,

and a bearing structure between said member and the shaft, said member forming with the hollow extension and the support, a lubricant chamber in communication with the bearings and the sliding surfaces, said member having an opening through which lubricant can be passed into the chamber during rotation of the shaft.

4. In a variable speed mechanism, a driving pulley structure having a pair of pulley sections with opposed inclined faces, forming by relative axial adjustment, variable effective pulley diameters, a driving shaft upon which said sections are supported, means for-moving the shaft in a direction transverse to its axis, rotatable means for altering the relative positions of said pair of pulley sections, a wheel, a mounting for the wheel to provide for it an axis parallel to the shaft and in fixed relation to the axis of the shaft, a flexible driving element connecting said wheel and said, rotatable means whereby rotation of the wheel is effective to adjust the relative axial positions of the pulley sections, and means whereby said transverse motion of the driving shaft causes said wheel to be rotated.

' 5. In a variable speed mechanism, a driving pulley structure havinga pair of pulley sections with opposed inclined faces, forming by relative axial adjustment, variable effective pulley diameters, a driving shaft upon which said sections are supported, means for moving the shaft in a direction transverse to its axis, rotatable means for altering the relative positions of said pair of pulley sections, a wheel, a mounting for the wheel to provide for it an axis parallel to the shaft and in fixed relationto the axis of the shaft, a

flexible driving element connecting said wheel and said rotatable means whereby rotation of the wheel is effective to adjust the relative axial positions of the pulley sections, and means, including a pinion shaft upon which said wheel is mounted, whereby said transverse motion of the driving shaft causes said wheel to be rotated, said wheel being capable of independent angular adjustment 'on said shaft to operate supplementarily said flexible driving element for adjusting belt sion.

6. In a variable speed power unit having a motor and a shaft, a driving pulley structure supported on said shaft and adaptedto be used with a driven pulley structure, a belt connecting said pulley structures, said driving. pulley structure having a pair of pulley sections with opposed intenclined faces, forming by relative axial'adjustment variable effective pulley diameters, one of said sections being fixed to the shaft and the other section being axially slidable thereon, a thrust bearing axially fixed to said slidable section, a

supporting cup for said thrust bearing, threaded means for varying the axial position of said cup, a base upon which the motor is mounted for movement to ,vary the centerdistance between said pulley structures as well as to maintain said structures in substantial alinement, means to vary said center distance, and means to causesubstantially simultaneous positive actuation of said last mentioned means and said threaded means.

.DOHHEYEB. 

